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The end of the COP23 UN Climate Change Conference

18.11.2017

The most important international climate change conference, which took place in Bonn and was presided over by Fiji has come to an end. Since the 6th of November, delegates from nearly 200 countries, as well as representatives of non-governmental and environmental organisations, cities and businesses discussed global climate policy. Polish delegation was led by Minister of Environment Professor Jan Szyszko.

“The main objective of the COP23 climate conference in Bonn was to prepare the ground for COP24. Its aim was to make progress in shaping the rules and principles of implementation of the Paris Agreement, which are to be adopted during the next year's conference in Katowice. We managed to achieve this progress”, said the Minister of Environment Professor Jan Szyszko.

The Minister also pointed out that Poland would continue the idea of Facilitative Dialogue throughout its presidency.

“During the COP24 climate conference in Katowice, we will create all the conditions necessary for the Talanoa Dialogue – as we will continue to use this term – to continue. We want it to reflect the varied views and expectations of the Parties in the best possible way”, Professor Szyszko assured.

Vice-Minister of Environment Paweł Sałek, Government Plenipotentiary for Climate Policy also emphasised that the reception of the location of next year’s conference among the international community was very positive.

“The city of Katowice is one of the symbols of Poland's development and economic success. 25 years ago, factory smokestacks were a characteristic feature of this place. Today, Katowice is a city with aspirations to become a leader in innovation and new technologies. The sustainable transformation, which has been consistently implemented throughout the past 25 years can inspire and serve as a model for others”, he explained.“COP24 will take place in a former mine, which makes the context of the site perfectly suited to the event. The transformation, which has taken place in recent years shows how much this region has done to improve the climate”, the Vice-Minister added.

Bilateral meetings

On the last day of the 23rd UN climate conference, Professor Jan Szyszko attended a number of bilateral talks, the main topic of which were preparations for COP24 in Poland. Polish Minister of Environment met with Xie Zhenhua, Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission in China, John M. Silk, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as well as Claire Perry, UK’s Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry. The talks concerned, among others, preparations for the organisation of COP24 conference in Poland.

“In order to reach a consensus and adopt the full package of decisions implementing the Paris Agreement, cooperation and commitment from all countries is paramount. I believe that we all want COP24 in Katowice to be a success”, said Professor Jan Szyszko.